Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-25
contrLhntors. l shonld remember that had


| ly; then she laughed outright.
"Why mother, We are bound to be happy,
you aud / !; your sacrifices shall not be all in
vain, promise YOU that Wait Till sell the
! manuscript; some day we shall get out OF
this place, hope. | always feel ashamed to
direct letters from Whiteside Junction, espcci-
/ ally manuscript | send to editors l don't Won
der that as a rule my articles are returned.
Supposing now | mailed from Philadelphia,
or Chicago, or better still, Boston, 1t might be
that should be regarded with greater con-
sideration. But Whltesde junction 1t does
sound ridiculous Do you suppose George
Eliot could have been George Eliot, II her
manuscript had been superseded from White
side Junction, lndianaF
"Well, my child, try TO be content with
| your lot"
Mother, dear, don't please say such dis
couraging things. II | were content, |
should never accomplish anything 1t is the
divine discomfort by which we are fully
developed. am afraid / shall never be con-
tent; have not the temperament. have a
terribly grasping disposition; but most Of all,
mother, have an intense longing for change,
| cannot endure Whiteside Junction; except
that We have lived here so very long,
True, Ida, there are MANY reasons for our
attachment TO Whiteside Junction"
Yes | know she assented very quietly.
us that Mrs. Deacon Smith coming down
the road" asked Mrs Lathrop. IL think !
will step out and see about the sweet corn
she partly promised TO dry some for us"
Ida laughed lightly. "What a mania we
have here in Indiana, for looking ahead,
mother; we seem always TO be hobnobbing
with coming events, We get the start OF every
thing"
Are We peculiar in this respect" returned
Mrs Lathrop. If think not"
II was four o'clock of an August day in the
editorial sanctum Of the Crescent The editor,
Mrs. Henrietta johnson, sat in an attitude OF
unusual listlessness. She had had a perplex
ing day of it, The chirography OF contributors
had been none Of the best; for some reason
their articles lacked point, acumen; they had
not been worked out in accordance with the
demands Of the times. The coming issue oil
the rSceat, she feared, would not prove
success
A gentle ring at the Office door reused her.
\ Young lady prettiily dressed ia gray, ac-
companed by middle aged lady, entered.
The young lady taking precedence, inquired il
Certainly" replied Mrs. Henrietta John
SON. II am the editor"
'Oh, am so glad am Ida Letitia La
throp Of Wniteside Junction; but, Of course
YOU may not remember my name, and yet
have written 10 you SO often"
Have youf No, am afraid / do not re
member"
1T was about an article sent you entitled
Misunderstanding, YOU thought it was no
up To the standard Of your paper, | presume
and l wrote 20 have it returned - explained
the young lady II needed it very much
could have disposed OF it, if you had obliged mt
uy returning 10. wrote five letters"
''Fiyc lcttcrs," exclaimed Mrs. Henrictta
Johnson, Five letters" A bright color
mounting 90 cheek aud brow in realization Of
the whole subject" Did YOU say five lettersP
she demanded with increasing severity.
Il am almost sure there were five" answer
ed Ida, fearing she had committed an I'm
pardonable blunder. Yes, | knew there wer,
five, she repeated. determining not to yield
her point
Your NAV, Miss Ida, interposel Mrs
Biggs, told Deacon Smiths wife that YOU
had wrote five letters 20 some magazine, OF
newspaper, dlsremember which; bur know
she said five
Ida blushed slightly This lady," sh,
said, lis Mrs. Bggs a neighbor of ours a
Whitesde Junction"
The editor bowed pleasantly. II have not
the slightest doubt" she resumed, but that
there were five. ! find, Miss Lathrop," she
ss d after a pause, that | have made a mis-
take, and that have sent those letters 10 III,
wrong address"
But" said Ida, Il gave my address, dis
tinctly, in every one of those letters"
Yes understand" replied the editor,
little impatiently. but we are all liable I,
mistakes. VIII you obige me. Miss Lathrop
by giving me specimen OF your handwriting
AS addressed 10 myself! sit here at nv desk
As feared, " she murmured, "a perfect fac
simile," bending over her as she wrote "WIl
you believe me, Miss Lathrop when ] tell yot
| never read those letters, and will you forgiv,
mei Circumstances which / cannot ex
plain" At this moment the door opened
to admit visitor. The editors quick glanc,
rested with prolonged stare upon the ap
preaching intruder, who in turn as intentll
stared upon herself
Then, was not mistaken" he said, offer
ing his hand with the utmost cordiality,
: courtesy, however OF which she appeared un
conscious the editor of the Crescent, and IN,
old friend Henrietta Seymour, are one and tn,
same"
"And you" she codly questioned, "ar,
Rowland Browne, Jr."
II am that unhappy object OF your dispeas
ure. Henretta-Miss Seymour, you hav,
been laborng under q great mistake; ALLOW
me To-
Mistakes again" she interposed, ''mis
takes appear to be the order OF the day. Blu
this is no time either for reproaches or expa
nations, Mr.. Browne. Sufficient 10 say that
regret your presence, which under other cir
cumstances, | should consider All insult. A,
1t is, can imagine its cause The miserable
blundcr made by myself, connected with those
letters, has just come TO my knowledge. II
was a most singular delusion," she hesitated
III wish" she resumed, 'to curtail this inter
view; excuse me- have business on hand
just at present"
81 am at your service" he replied. II will
then remain in the background for the
present"